COYOTES ACQUIRE ZBYNEK MICHALEK

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Michael Barnett announced today that the Coyotes have acquired defenseman Zbynek Michalek from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Erik Westrum and defenseman Dustin Wood.

Last season, the 6-foot-1, 199-pound Michalek played 22 games with Minnesota, recording 1-1-2 and 4 penalty minutes. Michalek also played 55 games with the Houston Aeros (AHL), collecting 5-16-21 and 32 penalty minutes.

In 2002-03, the 22-year-old native of Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech Republic played 62 games with Houston, registering 4-10-14 and 26 penalty minutes.

Michalek signed as a free agent with Minnesota on September 29, 2001.

In 2004-05, the 6-foot-0, 204-pound Westrum played 80 games with the Utah Grizzlies, recording 18-15-33 and 117 penalty minutes. In 2003-04, Westrum played 15 games with the Coyotes, collecting 1-1-2 and 20 penalty minutes.

Westrum was drafted by the Coyotes in the seventh round (187th overall) of the 1998 Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound Wood played 80 games with the Utah Grizzlies in 2004-05, registering 2-8-10 and 39 penalty minutes.

The 24-year-old native of Scarborough, Ontario was signed by the Coyotes as a free agent on June 2, 2004.